The losing culture that surrounded this franchise began changing when Larry Bowa, a popular shortstop on the 1980 championship team, took over as manager in 2001. He led the Phillies to three winning seasons in four years, but the volatile Bowa couldn't get them over the hump and his irascible personality annoyed some players.

The player-friendly Manuel replaced Bowa in 2005 and Philadelphia came close to reaching the playoffs his first two years only to fall short in the final weekend of the regular season

Now, let's try again that but I will swap out the nouns.

The losing culture that surrounded this franchise began changing when Willie Randolph, a popular second baseman from the Yankees, took over as manager in 2005. He led the Mets to three winning seasons in four years, but Randolph couldn't get them over the hump and his irascible personality annoyed some players.

The player-friendly Manuel (I didn't even have to change that!) replaced Randolph in 2008 and New York came close to reaching the playoffs....only to fall short in the final weekend of the regular season

Same story, you just need the championship to complete it.

As I have been harping about lately (me, really?) I want this new building to change the cutlure of the franchise. I want a winning tradition, not this tradition of finishing second or last (see my new Monday column on Flushing University.com for more about that.)

I like how the Phillies talk. They talk the talk, they walk the walk. You might hate Jimmy Rollins but I wouldn't mind a guy like that on my team. Check the ring.

"One thing I can't wait to do is go down Broad Street for that parade again and again and again," Hamels told the crowd at Citizens Bank Park two days after the Phillies won the World Series last October.

"If you're thinking about yesterday, well that means you're not doing nothing now. Our ultimate goal now is to win again. Before, it was to win a World Series. Now, it's to repeat. We've got the talent and I just want to keep the same way of playing, the same attitude and how we go about our business and we'll be OK."

The Phillies want to win again. They want to play meaningful games in October not September. I want to play meaningless games in September, the way the 86ers did. A 20 game lead would suit me just fine.

Until the Mets can beat the Phillies they need to respect them. Until the Mets can run off a sustained period of success (none of this one year followed by underperformers) I won't be satisfied.